Friday's notes and links: Two bats in the draft

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA — The Mariners had their only open date Thursday in a 37-day span, so attention focused on the MLB Draft, where they spent their first two selections of what they view as impact hitters.

The draft continues today with rounds three through 10 before concluding Saturday with rounds 11 through 40.

Rotation issues

The Mariners are facing a decision in their rotation after watching Erasmo Ramirez and Taijuan Walker struggle on Tuesday night. The solution could be — emphasize could be — a "bullpen day" with reliever Tom Wilhelmsen drawing a start.

For what it's worth, I think it's more likely the club promotes veteran Matt Palmer from Triple-A Tacoma. (He was pulled Thursday after three innings and 48 pitches, which could position him to start in Monday's series finale at Tampa Bay.)

What seems unlikely is that Ramirez, after lasting just three innings in Atlanta, will get another start. The Mariners also seem inclined to have Walker make at least one more rehab start in his recovery from a sore shoulder after watching him labor through 56 pitches in two innings on Tuesday for Tacoma.

Once the draft concludes, former Mariners DH/1B Kendrys Morales is expected to sign somewhere because that signing will no longer require a club to surrender a draft pick as compensation.

Many news reports continue to list the Mariners as a possibility, and that's certainly possible — the Mariners need a bat. But I've heard nothing in conversations with club officials to suggest it's likely. Still, like the Butler rumor, it's something to keep an eye on.

Around the farms

***Triple-A Tacoma didn't put on much of a show in a 6-0 loss to Albuquerque (Dodgers) in a game shown on the CBS Sports Network. We had Andy Bixler there, but my limited tech skills in a St. Petersburg hotel room can't locate the file online. Here's a box.

About Bob Dutton

Bob Dutton joined The News Tribune in 2013 after more than 25 years at the Kansas City Star, including the last 13 covering baseball and the Royals. He was the president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America in 2008 and serves on the committee that nominates players to the Hall of Fame.